Breaking down Sam Houston State vs. Central Arkansas

Sam Houston State receiver Yedidiah Louis (9) catches a pass for his third touchdown in a NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision playoff football game at Bowers Stadium on Saturday, December 3, 2016, in Huntsville, Tx. (Joe Buvid / For the Houston Chronicle)

Offense - Sam Houston State. The Bearkats didn't have any trouble scoring on Nicholls State, registering 66 points and 619 total yards - which was twice as much as Nicholls produced (307). They're now the second-ranked FCS offense, behind only Penn. They're also No. 3 in scoring and No. 4 in passing. The Bears average 460 total yards, which ranks 16th.

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Defense - Central Arkansas. The Bears have slipped from last year's top 10 defensive pace, but they're still in the top third of the FCS, and the Bearkats - who are giving up more yards per game than when they faced Central Arkansas last season - are in the bottom third. The Bears are holding opponents to 3.7 yards per rush, and the Bearkats surrender 4.9. Justin Johnson leads Sam with 23 tackles, three for loss, and two sacks.

Special teams – Even. The Bearkats have two special-teams scores. Jaylen Harris has one on nine kick returns for 268 yards, and Justin Gil has the other on a blocked punt he recovered in the end zone. The Bears gave up a 62-yard punt-return TD against Kansas State. Sam Houston K Tre Honshtein is 4-of-6 on FGs. He made his only attempt from 25 yards last week. Central Arkansas kickers are a combined 5-of-5 on FGs.

Notable: The Bearkats prevailed 42-13 two years ago and 59-23 last season, giving them three straight wins in the series. Central Arkansas won in 2012 and 2013, and before that they alternated three-game winning streaks. … Stewart was named Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Week after supplying seven receptions for 147 yards and two TDs against Nicholls.

About Sam Houston State: The Bearkats knocked off a ranked opponent for the second time this season, rolling 66-17 over a Nicholls team that nearly upset Texas A&M. Sam Houston didn't allow a first-half touchdown and denied the Colonels on their first nine third-down attempts. Briscoe threw for 305 yards and three TDs, giving him 1,008 yards and 10 TDs with two INTs on 64-of-105 passing.

About Central Arkansas: The Bears picked up their second straight win after a season-opening loss to K-State, beating Southeastern Louisiana 38-6 in their first Southland contest. They amassed 473 yards while holding Southeastern Louisiana to 279, including only 84 passing yards. Rover George Odum led the defense with 12 tackles, and Garner notched a career-high 11 and returned a fumble 38 yards for a TD.